Floating suction head

ABSTRACT

Apparatus used for collecting spilled oil from the surface of the sea including primarily a floating suction head connected to a pump by a flexible hose. The oil-water mixture enter the head through a suction port, the latter being protected from debris by a series of screens.

United States Patent OBrien [54] FLOATING SUCTION HEAD [72] Inventor:John A. O'Brien, Rockville, Md.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy [22] Filed: July 13, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 162,108

[52] US. Cl. ..2l0/242, 2l0/DlG. 21 [51] Int. Cl. ..C02b 9/02 [58] Fieldof Search ..210/DIG. 21, 242; 415/7 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,534,859 10/1970 Amero et al ..210/242 [451 Sept. 12, 19722,891,672 6/1959 V eld et al. ..2l0/242 3,547,553 12/1970 Stanfield ..41 5/7 3,534,858 10/ l 970 Harrington ..2l0/242 Primary Examiner-ReubenFriedman Assistant Examiner-T. A. Granger Attorney-Gayward N. Mann etal.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus used for collecting spilled oil from the surfaceof the sea including primarily a floating suction head connected to apump by a flexible hose. The oil water mixture enter the head through asuction port, the latter being protected from debris by a series ofscreens.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FLOATING SUCTION HEAD BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally toapparatus for removing undesirable liquids from any aqueous surface andmore particularly to floating suction devices adapted specifically tocollect and remove spilled oil from the surface of the sea.

2. Description of the Prior Art The first oil pollution control measuresincluded attempts at forced combustion, absorption by straw, sawdust andother natural materials and sinking the oil with sand. These attemptsproved to be either inadequate, excessively costly or only of temporaryvalue. Dispersants, especially detergents, are also employed, but sincethey are highly toxic and cause ecological damage to marine life theyare not considered acceptable solutions. In certain areas, legislationprohibits their use and conservationists constantly attack theirapplication.

It has become generally accepted that the only adequate method ofdealing with spilled oil on the sea is through physical removal. To thisend, various mechanical devices have been designed including rotatingdrums, endless belts and suction devices. Only the latter show promiseof operating-satisfactorily and recent studies indicate they are themost cost effective method of collecting oil. Suction devices have beenemployed for the last several years with considerable success and it isbelieved that for efficient operation,

especially on high seas, a lightweight buoyant structure would be themost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly an object of this invention is to provide a method andapparatus for removing oil from an aqueous surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for removingspilled oil from an ocean surface which is easily adjusted to thethickness of the oil slick thus picking up maximum oil and minimumwater.

Still another object is to provide a simple and economical apparatus forremoving oil from an ocean surface which is exceptionally effective inoperation.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF- THE DRAWINGS FIG.'1 is a simplified partialcross-sectional view of the apparatus constructed in accordance with thepresent invention with portions cut away to show the head structure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the embodimentshown there is indicated a floating suction head 10 which is preferablycircular with a plurality of suction ports 12 located about theperiphery. It is constructed preferably of a sturdy lightweight plasticmaterial and is about l8 inches in diameter and about 7 inches inheight. The head 10 contains three tubes 14 into which weights 16 areinserted as needed to adjust the skimming depth. A central tube 18interconnects with the ports 12 and a lightweight flexible andextendable hose 20 connects tube 18 to the floating suction hose'22which leads to a pump not illustrated.

In the preferred embodiment the suction'ports 12 are tapered andV-notchedas shown in FIG. 3 in order to help preventmechanical-emulsification of the oil-water mixture and thus aid inseparation of the oil from the water. The head 10 comprises a cover andbase'32 and '34 respectively. The base 34 includes the slanted landportions 36 and when the cover is positioned over the base and adheredthereto by an suitable means, the

open area between the lands provides the very important V-shaped ports12.

A debris screen 24'preferably of about %-inch mesh circumscribes thehead 10 and is used to protect the ports 12 from clogging and otherdamage. The screen 24 is supported independently of the head 10 by thetriangular shaped screen angles 26 which have a circular float 28attached at each of three corners substantially as shown.

The frame angles 30 are attached to each float 28 and to the tube 18thereby providing additional strength to the framework formed by angles26. The angles 30 also support the flexible hose 20.

In operation the oil-water mixter enters the head 10 through the suctionintake ports l2 and is sucked through tube 18 by suitable pump meansinto hoses 20 and 22 thence into a storage area. Through a series ofweights 16 which are added to head 10 as is required the skimming depthis maintained at between about /4. to 1 inch. This ability to adjust theskimming depth enhances the oil-to-water ratio so that the volumerequirement for an oil-water separation system is reduced.

Three suction head assemblies may preferably be used simultaneously withthe same suction source to increase oil pickup efficiency.

In case of substantial decreased output flow, the head is easily cleanedby backflushing. Routine cleaning with diesel fuel or strong detergentand water effectively removes the sticky oil and small particles ofdebris that may plug the suction head 10 after severe use.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present inventionarepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device to collect spilled oil from an aqueous surface comprising:

a buoyant suction. head having upper and lower surfaces interconnectedwith a peripheral wall, said wall having a plurality of tapered V-shapedsuction intake ports positioned around the periphery, said V-shapedsuction intake ports comprising a first inlet end, a second outlet endand having a generally triangular shape provided by walls connected attheir longitudinal edges with said edges extending from said inlet endto said outlet end, the transverse dimensions of said walls being ofgreater length at said inlet end than at said outlet end wherebymechanical emulsification of the oil water mixture is prevented as thespilled oil is sucked into the ports from the aqueous surface;

a tube vertically oriented and centrally positioned within the buoyantsuction head, said tube having a lower inlet end and an upper outlet endwith said inlet end interconnecting with the outlet ends of saidtriangularly shaped intake ports, said central tube adapted to receivethe waste oil sucked into the head through said ports and forward thesame via flexible hoses attached to the outlet end of said central tubeto a suitable area; a debris screen circumscribing said head to preventclogging damage thereto;

a plurality of floats attached at spaced distances 'means to adjust thehead and insure adequate skimming depth thereof. 3. The device of claim2 wherein: said means to adjust the head includes a series of weightswhich are adapted to be placed in said head to adjust the skimming depththereof and insure the correct oil-to-water ratio.

'4. The device of claim 1 wherein: a series of screen angles are adaptedto support said screen independent of the head and, a separate series offrame angles are adapted to interconnect the floats with the head. 5.The device of claim 1 wherein the floats are three i I I l

1. A device to collect spilled oil from an aqueous surface comprising: abuoyant suction head having upper and lower surfaces interconnected witha peripheral wall, said wall having a plurality of tapered V-shapedsuction intake ports positioned around the periphery, said V-shapedsuction intake ports comprising a first inlet end, a second outlet endand having a generally triangular shape provided by walls connected attheir longitudinal edges with said edges extending from said inlet endto said outlet end, the transverse dimensions of said walls being ofgreater length at said inlet end than at said outlet end wherebymechanical emulsification of the oil water mixture is prevented as thespilled oil is sucked into the ports from the aqueous surface; a tubevertically oriented and centrally positioned within the buoyant suctionhead, said tube having a lower inlet end and an upper outlet end withsaid inlet end interconnecting with the outlet ends of said triangularlyshaped intake ports, said central tube adapted to receive the waste oilsucked inTo the head through said ports and forward the same viaflexible hoses attached to the outlet end of said central tube to asuitable area; a debris screen circumscribing said head to preventclogging damage thereto; a plurality of floats attached at spaceddistances about the screen; and pump means interconnecting with saidflexible hoses and providing suction to draw the spilled oil into saidV-shaped suction intake ports positioned about the periphery of thehead.
 2. The device of claim 1 including: means to adjust the head andinsure adequate skimming depth thereof.
 3. The device of claim 2wherein: said means to adjust the head includes a series of weightswhich are adapted to be placed in said head to adjust the skimming depththereof and insure the correct oil-to-water ratio.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein: a series of screen angles are adapted to support saidscreen independent of the head and, a separate series of frame anglesare adapted to interconnect the floats with the head.
 5. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the floats are three in number and are equally spacedabout said head.